Cars are an essential part of our everyday lives. We cannot think of any vehicle other than the car when we move outside. It provides a hassle-free traveling experience for those who have no kids with them when they are traveling. Today, I’ll demonstrate a single and simple solution to the problem: a booster car seat. A booster car seat can lessen children’s problems when trying to sit on a regular car seat. Now, you may ask, ‘What is a booster car seat then’? All you need to know about a booster car seat is described here. Stay tuned to dig out more information about your projected solution.
What is a booster car seat?
Ensuring the child’s safety is the primary duty of parents or elderly people, especially when you are riding a vehicle, as every year, thousands of children die in car accidents. The booster seats are a precaution for children to avoid possible injury in a car crash.
Booster seats are a type of removable seat usually installed into a car seat to ensure children’s safety in case of an accident. It helps kids who have outgrown a car seat but are not big enough to use traditional seatbelts. The booster car seats uplift children to a perfect height to keep the seatbelts in position.
Some boosters have a headrest that helps children’s head and neck in emergencies.
Why does my child need a booster seat?
The booster seats prevent children’s injuries in a car accident. Without this, an adult seat belt can’t save the children in a car crash.
Understanding the problem with adult seat belts can help you understand the need for a booster seat for children. Usually, the lap belts rest on your children’s tummy, which could make them suffer stomach, liver, or spleen damage in an accident. On the other hand, the shoulder belts rest on the neck of your children, and it can harm their neck during the accident. If you are trying to move it under their arm, it can break the ribs of your child.
Additionally, research also shows the efficiency of the booster seats. Compared to seat belts alone, children ages 4 to 8 who use a booster seat can lower their risk of a crash-related injury by 45 percent. Another study shows that states with booster seat laws have a 25% lower death rate among 7-year-olds than those without booster seat laws.
NHTSA also recommends using a booster seat according to your child’s age.
In short, it can be said that to keep your children safe, in case of collisions, you have to set a booster seat on your car.
what are the Types of booster car seats?
There are many types of booster seats available in the market. Here, I mentioned some commonly used booster seats.
1. Belt-positioning boosters
2. Combination seats
The belt-positioning booster seats uplift the children to a height where they can safely use the car’s lap and shoulder belts. It has two models, too;
High-back: High-back booster car seats are recommended if the height of the car’s seat is not high enough for children with a booster seat. High-back booster seats have their support to lay on.
Backless models: if the head of the child fits into the head support of the car, you can have a backless booster. It has no support to lay on other than the car seat back.
Combination seats are a type of high-back seat that can be used with a harness both as a forward-facing safety seat or as a booster seat.
When can a child start using a booster car seat? (NHTSA recommendations)
A newborn is not strong enough to sit in a booster seat. Then, the question `What age are booster car seats for?’ is not unusual. Here, I described this according to the safety manuals of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of America.
Three types of seats can be installed for the safety of your baby. This classification is based on the age and size of the child. These are;
- Rare facing
All infants and young children will travel in a rare seat until they are not big enough to sit in a forward-facing seat. Usually, children up to 3 years old are recommended to use this rare-facing seat. The rare-facing seats are good at protecting the head, neck, and spinal cords.
- Forward facing
Some experts said to turn the seat around when your baby is four years old and shift to forward-facing seats with a harness and teether. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) asked that the rare seat be not changed based on age because rare-facing seats are safer than forward-facing ones. However, you can use forward-facing seats when your baby is 4 and shift towards the next level when he turns 7.
- At what age can you put a child in a booster car seat?
When your baby turns 8, start using the boosting car seats. If your baby is not mature enough to shift to the booster seats, keep waiting until he or she is big enough to fit into the seat belt properly.
When to stop using booster car seats?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of America, you can shift your child to a regular seat when he or she turns 12. But if the lap and shoulder belts of the regular seat do not fit them properly, wait for a couple of years.
Yet, there are some recommendations from the NHTSA, and they ask to use the backseats of the car until they are not big enough to move onto the front seat because it is safer to use a booster than when your child is sitting in a regular car seat.
However, always use the seatbelts for a safe journey and check the seats when buying a car. Ensure your vehicle has a shoulder belt installed in the backseat as well. If not, ask the dealer for them.
Do booster car seats expire?
Yes, they do!
Booster and regular car seats are typically made of the same materials. The only difference is the size of both seats. The booster seats uplift the children and allow them to fit into the regular seats, while the other is designed for elderly people.
If you ask how old booster car seats I can use or when the booster car seat expires, The answer to your question is, “The booster and regular seats of a car expire typically after six years,” so you should not use booster car seats older than 6 years.
You may ask why they expire. They are installed to save your children in case of accidents, but after some years, the seats become weak and lose the ability to protect your child in an emergency because of continuous use.
How to install a booster car seat?
You must install the booster seat properly per the child’s comfort. You can install the booster car seats following the steps to ensure the children’s comfort.
Firstly, choose a comfortable booster seat for your child. For that, you can simply buy a seat that is neither big nor small for your child.
Secondly, ensure the seat fits the car’s rear seat and doesn’t hang over it. Also, check if the lap and shoulder belts can fit fully around the booster seat.
Thirdly, if it meets all of your demands, it’s time to install it on the car’s rear seat. If your rear seat has no shoulder belt, install it on the left or right seat of the car. The car seat must be secured tightly in the vehicle. When pulled at the belt path, it should not move side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
Finally, check it regularly before putting your baby on it.
Is booster car seat safe?
The booster car seats are a precaution for the children when traveling via a vehicle. The booster car seats are super safe for the user. Data shows that the booster reduces the injury rate of children in car accidents by 45 percent compared to children without a booster seat. So, use it to stay safe and have good traveling experiences with your child.
Who can use a booster car seat?
Every child aged 8-12 can use a booster car seat. Children who measure less than 4.9 feet and weigh less than 65 pounds can use booster car seats. On the other hand, if a child of the age group crosses the weight and height limit, he or she is prohibited from sitting on it.
Conclusion
Although you are driving safely, there are chances to have a crash. So, stay prepared for all situations by taking proper initiatives, including installing booster car seats. It not only saves them in case of an accident, but it also gives the child comfort. To ensure the safety and comfort of your child during travel, there are no other options than installing booster car seats.